New Zealand v Australia: Post-Match Reaction

New Zealand picked up yet another win at Eden Park as they blunted the dangerous Wallaby attack with a 30 to 14 win in Auckland. Tries from Ma’a Nonu and Kevin Mealamu in the first half and a controversial score from Sitiveni Sivivatu after the break powered the All Blacks in front, with their lead at one point stretching to 20-0 after a Dan Carter drop goal early in the second half.

Australia got a score on the board through Digby Ioane after some excellent build-up from Will Genia and Kurtley Beale, only for Sivivatu to immediately respond after good work from Conrad Smith in the resulting restart, with a knock-on from Kieran Read in the build-up not being picked up by the officials.

Quade Cooper nearly gifted the All Blacks a try with a blind, behind the back pass in his own dead ball area on a frustrating night for Wallaby playmaker. He still produced a moment of brilliance however for Australia’s second try from Rocky Elsom, putting in a huge pass from left to right. However the All Blacks were at another level; incredibly clinical, and powerful in defence, sending a message to everyone ahead of the World Cup.

If anyone is to beat the AB’s at home they have to play offside at every ruck like the AB’s do. If the wallabies were smarter they would have realized this and adjusted. They may not have won, but would have defended better. Without stronger refereeing AB’s can engrave the RWC now…

Billy Blue, you need glasses and an attitude adjustment. Sit back, relax and enjoy the speed of the All Blacks and their enthusiasm for the game. The new rules open up attack i.e. tackler release, tackled player releasing the ball, clearing bodies from the ruck, staying on your feet. Wallabies won the game in the newspaper and lost it at the Haka.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that Dan Carter is the greatest player of all time. Let’s look at the evidence…

Highest all time points scorer (will go on to near 1500 come retirement)
Most tries ever by a fly-half
Highest points per game average ever

Most importantly, when Dan Carter plays his team wins 88.88% of time. That’s the highest winning percentage of any player in history over 50 caps. Quite an important stat I think you’d agree.

I realise that’s it’s near impossible to compare Carter to, say, Martin Johnson, Colin Meads, Gareth Edwards, Richie McCaw or even Jonah Lomu. But I believe there are more reasons to say that he is the greatest than any other player. He just needs to win a World Cup…which will happen in October.

Dan Carter is good, but can’t be considered great until he has won a world cup.
I am sure he will at some point, but even then, to call him the greatest ever in such company as Gareth Edwards, Martin johnson, John Eales et al is not entirely right.

I am sure he will be considered one of the greats in time, but at the moment, he is simply a very good player in a very good side.